EACR-Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 Open Applications for Early-Career Cancer Researchers @Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 Open Applications for Early-Career Cancer Researchers

The European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), in partnership with the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, has opened applications for the prestigious EACR-Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027. The programme aims to support exceptional early-career scientists conducting innovative cancer research at research institutions across Europe.

Awarded for a period of three years, the fellowships provide a significant opportunity for postdoctoral researchers to advance their careers while contributing to breakthroughs in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The initiative reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to fostering scientific excellence, supporting emerging talent, and accelerating discoveries that can improve outcomes for cancer patients worldwide.

Supporting the Next Generation of Cancer Research Leaders

The EACR-Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed to empower talented researchers during a critical stage of their scientific careers.

The programme seeks to:

• Support outstanding EACR members during postdoctoral training.
• Advance innovative and high-impact areas of cancer research.
• Strengthen a global network of scientists with diverse expertise.
• Promote collaboration and knowledge exchange across institutions.

Through long-term funding and professional development opportunities, the fellowships aim to help researchers generate meaningful scientific contributions while building sustainable research careers.

Programme Goals and Expected Outcomes

The fellowship programme measures success through several key outcomes, including:

• Professional career advancement.
• Generation of publishable scientific discoveries.
• Acquisition of follow-on research funding.
• Development of new collaborations and partnerships.
• Active engagement with the Mark Foundation research community.

By supporting ambitious and innovative projects, the programme contributes to the broader goal of accelerating progress in cancer research globally.

Eligibility Requirements

Researchers interested in applying must meet strict eligibility criteria outlined by the EACR.

Applicants must:

• Hold an active EACR membership at the time of application.
• Have completed a PhD.
• Possess no more than five years of postdoctoral research experience at the outline proposal submission deadline.
• Be actively engaged in cancer research.
• Have published at least one first-author or joint first-author primary research article in an international peer-reviewed journal.

Career interruptions such as parental leave or long-term illness may be excluded when calculating postdoctoral experience.

Host Institution Requirements

Successful applicants must be based at a European non-profit research institution for the duration of the fellowship.

Additional requirements include:

• Host institutions must agree to employ the fellow according to programme terms.
• Proposed host laboratories must not have an active fellow funded through any EACR postdoctoral fellowship programme at the fellowship start date.
• Projects must be conducted in eligible academic or non-profit research environments.

Applications involving industrial or for-profit laboratories are not eligible for funding.

Research Areas Supported

The programme welcomes innovative cancer research projects with the potential to advance scientific understanding and address significant challenges in cancer care.

Eligible projects may focus on:

• Cancer biology
• Cancer prevention
• Early detection and diagnosis
• Therapeutic development
• Precision medicine
• Biomarker discovery
• Translational cancer research
• Technology development enabling biological discovery

Research proposals must be centered on evidence-based laboratory science and medical research.

Projects focused primarily on psychosocial aspects of cancer are not eligible under this programme.

Funding Innovative and Impactful Cancer Research

The fellowship encourages ambitious projects capable of generating transformative scientific insights.

Applications involving technological innovation may also be considered where there is a clear underlying biological research question.

Examples include:

• Novel laboratory technologies.
• Biomarker-driven research.
• Advanced diagnostic approaches.
• Emerging methodologies supporting biological discovery.

The programme prioritizes research with strong scientific merit and potential long-term impact on cancer outcomes.

Application Process

Applications are submitted through the EACR online portal and follow a two-stage review process.

Stage One: Outline Proposal

Applicants must submit an outline proposal by:

19 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST

Following review, selected candidates will be invited to progress to the second stage.

Stage Two: Full Proposal

Shortlisted applicants must submit a full proposal by:

23 November 2026 at 23:59 CET

Successful fellows will begin their awards on:

1 May 2027

Important Application Considerations

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the programme guidelines before submission.

Key recommendations include:

• Ensure all eligibility requirements are met.
• Adhere strictly to word and character limits.
• Complete all sections before submission.
• Prepare responses offline before uploading them to the portal.
• Download and review the final application after submission.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

AI Disclosure Requirements

The EACR has introduced transparency requirements regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in grant applications.

Applicants who use AI tools during application preparation must disclose:

• The name of each AI tool used.
• The exact prompts provided.
• Whether AI influenced key arguments or conclusions.
• The methods used to review and verify AI-generated content.

The only exception applies to simple language translation or grammar-checking tools.

Importantly, AI disclosure is required for transparency and monitoring purposes only and does not affect the evaluation process.

Celebrating Previous Fellowship Recipients

The fellowship programme has supported numerous promising cancer researchers across Europe.

Recent awardees include:

2026 Recipients

• Rafael Blanco – Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Portugal
• Alberto Hernandez Barranco – University of Lausanne, Switzerland

2025 Recipients

• Julie Mazet – University of Lausanne, Switzerland
• Christina Metoikidou – Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), Netherlands
• Martha Zarou – Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom

These researchers represent the growing community of scientists advancing innovative cancer research through the programme.

Advancing Cancer Research Across Europe

The EACR-Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships continue to play a vital role in strengthening Europe’s cancer research ecosystem. By providing long-term support to talented early-career researchers, the programme enables groundbreaking discoveries, fosters international collaboration, and contributes to the development of future leaders in cancer science.

Researchers seeking to expand the boundaries of cancer knowledge and make meaningful contributions to patient outcomes are encouraged to submit their applications before the August 2026 deadline.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

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